Bob Hoffman is a winner who has been successful everywhere he has coached. So there’s no doubt that Hoffman, who was the architect of the Broncs’ best season in 12 years two seasons ago, has The University of Texas-Pan American’s men’s basketball team on track to challenge for a spot in post-season play.

The Broncs, who rebuilt last season, were 20-10 two years ago. The wins were the most wins they have had since the 1989-90 season. In 2001-2002, UTPA also had their first winning season since 1993-94, earned their first tournament victory since 1989-90, and, with 12 victories at home, recorded the most wins at the UTPA Fieldhouse in eight years. The Broncs were rated for the first time ever in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll. Ranked as high as 14th, they were considered for an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament. UTPA averaged 2866 fans per game at home, and drew eight crowds of 3000 or better, including 5224 for the final home game against Centenary, the second-largest home crowd in the history of the program. Hoffman was named National Independent Coach of the Year, both by CollegeInsider.com, and by the independent coaches and sports information directors.

“We are 38-12 in four years at home, which is a big plus,” said Hoffman. “The first year I was here, we broke the longest road losing streak in NCAA history, 64 games. We won three games on the road my first year, and we had guys who were seniors who had never gone on the road and won. For the last two years, we were in the top 25 per cent in field goal percentage in the nation, and last year, we were in the top 25 per cent in scoring. And since I’ve been here, we’ve been graduating most of our seniors.”

Hoffman began his college coaching career at Southern Nazarene, where his team began the longest home court winning streak in women’s basketball history-120 games in succession. He then went on to a stellar career at Oklahoma Baptist, leading the Bison to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics finals. Named Women’s Coach of the Year by the NAIA in 1988-89, he was honored as Men’s Coach of the Year by Basketball Times in 1992-93.

At SNU, Hoffman took a team that had never had a winning record and won the 1989 NAIA championship in just his second season. In three years at Southern Nazarene, he compiled an 88-16 record, and was named Coach of the Year by the Sooner Athletic Conference, the NAIA’s District 9 and the NAIA itself. He coached two NAIA All-Americans and numerous All-Conference players at SNU.

Hoffman had a very successful run as the men’s coach at his alma mater, Oklahoma Baptist. In his third season, the Bison went 34-4 and advanced all the way to the NAIA Championship game. Hoffman was named Sooner Athletic Conference and NAIA District Nine Coach of the Year for his team’s performance.
The following year, the Bison went 30-7, advancing to the NAIA Final Four, winning at Oregon State and falling at Brigham Young by just two points.

In the next two seasons, the Bison posted a combined 57-13 record, advanced to the NAIA Tournament each year, and Hoffman was again named SAC Coach of the Year. During the 1996-97 season, Hoffman led the Bison to a school-record 36 wins, the SAC Championship, and the school’s second NAIA second-place finish nationally. For the second straight season, Hoffman was named SAC Coach of the Year. In 1998-99, his final OBU team went 31-7, tied for the SAC title and advanced to the NAIA Elite Eight. During Hoffman’s tenure at OBU, the Bison advanced to the NAIA Tournament six times. His athletes earned 21 All-Conference honors, and 10 were named NAIA All-Americans, including three first team picks. Two players were named SAC Player of the Year, while two others were named SAC Tournament MVP. Hoffman finished his tenure at OBU with a 244-78 record and a winning percentage of .758. During his nine years at OBU, Hoffman’s teams averaged more than 90 points per game, and led the NAIA in field goal percentage seven times.

Hoffman began his coaching career at Piedmont (OK) High School, shortly after he graduated from OBU. After two years as an assistant coach, he led Piedmont to a 79-30 record and their first three appearances at the state tournament, including two trips to the state quarterfinals. Named Oklahoma City Coach of the Year before moving on to the college ranks, Hoffman was assistant coach at Oklahoma Baptist for two seasons before being named head women’s coach at NAIA District Nine rival Southern Nazarene.

Hoffman’s teams have been as successful off the court as they have been on the court. At Southern Nazarene, two of Hoffman’s players were named All-American Scholar Athletes, while during his nine years at OBU, Hoffman’s teams had an 87 percent graduation rate. Four times OBU players were named All-American Scholar Athletes. Two years ago, center Reggie Kuzet received several academic honors, including an invitation to the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. He was named an All-American Scholar and earned National Dean’s List recognition. In 2001-2002, guard James Davis was named an Arthur Ashe, Junior Sports Scholar. Last season, guard Kevin Mitchell was named to the first-ever NCAA Division I-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholar-Athlete Team, while Davis received honorable mention for the same honor. Davis and Mitchell were both named Arthur Ashe, junior Sports Scholars.Guard Matt Hall represented UTPA at the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference.

Very well respected in both the Oklahoma and South Texas communities, Hoffman ran the largest summer basketball team camp in Oklahoma. His 1999 camp had over 1,300 participants, more than camps at either the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University, while his camps at UTPA have attracted the highest number of campers in recent memory.

A standout guard and forward and a 1979 graduate of Oklahoma Baptist, Hoffman is one of just 30 players to score at least 1,000 points in his OBU career. A native of Oklahoma City, Hoffman is married to the former Kelli Lumry. The couple have one son, Grant, 7.